Trauma and Health: Physical Health Consequences of Exposure to Extreme Stress

The relationship between stress and physical health has posed many questions for researchers. Most of their queries have focused on stressors such as divorce, bereavement, and job loss. However, more recent work has examined the health effects associated with extreme stressors, including war, sexual victimization, disasters, and serious accidents. This volume continues along that path and summarizes findings on trauma and PSTD in relation to three domains of outcomes: health status and disease, somatization, and utilization and cost. Contributors examine the biology of stress and PTSD, and how trauma and PSTD could lead to poor physical health through correlates such as depression, coping, and health behaviors. They also present implications for clinical and health policy. This volume provides a comprehensive summary of existing literature and a refreshing look at current empirical work. It will stimulate research and support clinical practice by providing clinicians with solid information that can inform their work with patients. Trauma and Health clearly shows that poor physical health should be recognized, along with poor mental health as an outcome of traumatic exposure.